The prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in the United States is significantly greater than previously estimated, find physicians from Rochester, Minnesota.

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The epidemiology of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in the United States is unknown.

In this study, physicians evaluated the incidence, clinical spectrum, and outcomes of PSC in Minnesota.

Their findings are reported in the November issue of Gastroenterology.

73% of cases had inflammatory bowel disease.

Gastroenterology

The team used data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify individuals with PSC. Patients' diagnosis was confirmed using clinical, biochemical, radiographic, and histologic criteria.

The team identified 22 patients who met diagnostic criteria for PSC between 1976 and 2000.

They calculated the age-adjusted incidence of PSC as 1.25 per 100,000 person-years in men, and 0.54 per 100,000 person-years in women.

The prevalence of PSC in 2000 was 20.9 per 100,000 men, and 6.3 per 100,000 women.

The team found that 73% of cases had inflammatory bowel disease.
In addition, they found that survival among PSC patients was significantly less than expected for the Minnesota white population of similar age and gender.

Dr Kiran Bambha's team concluded, "These data represent the first population-based estimates of the incidence and prevalence of PSC in the United States".

"The incidence and prevalence of PSC were approximately one third of those previously described for primary biliary cirrhosis in the same population".

"Our data suggest that the prevalence of PSC in the United States, with its attendant medical burdens, is significantly greater than previously estimated".